Buffalo Bills News - June 28, 2002

Mike Williams at mandatory rookie symposium [6:21 PM]CNN/SI reports:
"Little, simple stuff that you've overlooked. This is all stuff we didn't have to take care of because our parents took care of you or you got a scholarship and you didn't have to worry about anything," Williams said. "But now it's kind of like we're young men and you've got to pay your bills on time and you've got to be responsible. I'm not saying that none of us are, but we're coming to a different field."

Len Pasquarelli: Bills Still Considering Ahanotu [6:19 PM]ESPN reports:
Apparently reports that the former Buccaneer has already signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons are incorrect. The Bills front office continues their amazing offseason by pursuing depth and experience for the most questioned area left to address.

Vic Carucci: Development Coordinators Play Key Role [1:45 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Paul Lancaster, the Director of Player Programs for the Bills, works closely with the players and oversees the ares of continuing education, family assistance, financial planning, and post-football career development.

AFC East: 'Super' Patriots stay on top [10:43 AM]ESPN reports:
I had a hard time picking the Buffalo Bills last, but they are in a strong division. I know Gregg Williams feels good about his team. They had several new players last year. Now they have added Bledsoe, who I think is a steal. He gives them instant credibility at QB and makes the Bills a completely different team offensively. If Moulds doesn't catch 100 balls, I'll be shocked. The Bills defense runs around and has very physical corners. They will win seven-plus games and could easily win 10 games and battle for first place.

Jackson arrested in Illinois [9:06 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Buffalo Bills tight end Sheldon Jackson was arrested Wednesday near Moline, Ill., on charges of driving with a suspended license and possessing less than 2.5 grams of marijuana. Both charges are misdemeanors.'

Bills' TE busted for marijuana in Henry County [9:05 AM]Moline Dispatch reports:
(See bottom of page, paid subscription required)
'If convicted of the Class C misdemeanor drug charge, Jackson could face up to 30 days in the Henry County Jail and fines up to $1,000.'

Patriots' run gives AFC East teams hope [5:21 AM]ESPN reports:
'For years, Belichick always felt he had the defensive schemes to contain Bledsoe, so trading him to Buffalo doesn't scare him in their home-and-home series. But if Bledsoe gets hot, he will easily elevate the Bills to a respectable record and make them a threat.'

June 27, 2002

Brown: Bills Release Dangerfield [12:38 PM]WGR reports:
Dangerfield, a 6-5, 212-pound wide receiver that had an injury-plagued college career at LSU where he was a teammate of Bills 2nd round pick Josh Reed. He signed with the Bills as an UFA in the 2002 offseason. He was injured for part of the May and June minicamps and never made an impact despite his imposing size.

Fish looking at ex-Bills CB Donovan Greer [12:33 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
The team is looking for another CB who could help inside. They are interested in free-agent CB Donovan Greer, who was cut by the Redskins Friday, and former Dolphin Terrell Buckley, who played for the Super Bowl champion Patriots last season.

Big Mike: A simple mistake can cost you [12:31 PM]NFL.com reports:
After freezing the scene, director Zach Minor invited Williams to demonstrate how he would handle the situation. Williams was the picture of calm, speaking in a soothing voice and, in a matter of about five minutes, managed to resolve the argument peacefully. He even put an arm around the woman after she began to cry, drawing a rousing ovation from his fellow rookies.

Player development coordinators play key role [12:30 PM]NFL.com reports:
"I like to see good things happen to good people, especially the young people on our team," says Cleveland Browns player development coordinator Jerry Butler, who spent seven seasons as a wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills. "I really represent their future, and they represent my past."

Bills Release Dangerfield [9:07 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills today announced that the team has released WR Edward Dangerfield.

Where are they now: Nate Odomes [3:15 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
After picking off 12 passes in his first five years with the Bills, during Buffalo’s fourth Super Bowl season in 1993, Odomes co-led the NFL with a career-high nine interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

Bills Make Roster Changes [3:14 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The Bills announced today that the team has released TE Scot Osborne and long snapper Chip Mattingly.

Williams: Shanahan Shows The Way [9:42 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
In the second of three installments, Williams gives his thoughts about a speech by Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan on what it takes to make his team and succeed in the NFL, and what he has learned from sessions dealing with credit theft and finances.

June 25, 2002

Richard Arnold given award [4:32 PM]Business First of Buffalo reports:
Richard Arnold, corporate executive chef at Rich Products Corp., was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation of Greater Buffalo. He was honored for contributions to events like the Festival of Trees and coordinating pumpkin carving at Buffalo Bills home games.

Bushbaum: Bills make underrated signing by inking Johnson [4:29 PM]Pro Football Weekly reports:
Includes a pretty good rip of Eric Moulds.
Johnson was cut in February after one season with the Patriots, having made 14 catches for 133 yards and one touchdown — the lowest numbers of his career.

Introducing The New Jills Cheerleading Director… [3:54 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Stephanie enters her first year as the Buffalo Jills Cheerleading Director. However, she's no stranger to the Jills exceptional cheerleading program. Ask her a question by writing to jills@bills.nfl.com

Williams: Keep Your Ears And Mind Open [9:08 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Williams, a former standout at the University of Texas and the fourth overall pick of the draft, is sharing his impressions of the symposium with NFL Insider national editor Vic Carucci for NFL.com.

June 24, 2002

Offseason Overview: Buffalo Bills [8:24 PM]ESPN reports:
'Talking playoffs for a team that won just three games last season seems a little absurd. But based on their offseason, the Bills are close to being a playoff-caliber team. With Bledsoe in the fold and players such as wide receivers Eric Moulds and Peerless Price and Fletcher, the Bills are certainly a team on the rise. Going from the basement to the playoffs might be too tall an order. However, expecting eight wins is reasonable.'

Growing Up Bledsoe [4:52 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"When it was all said and done," Mac says, "he liked the guy in the mirror."'

NFL Teams Claim Victory On The Internet [3:12 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
buffalobills.com was picked as the fourth best team site according to a recent study designed by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal. The study rated the 121 MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL team web sites.

June 23, 2002

Bledsoe no longer takes easy route [9:11 AM]Providence Journal reports:
'But he always was a fairly shrewd one at gauging public opinion. He knew there was more upside to falling on his sword publicly even if he could have made a bigger difference by pointing that sword at the offending parties. But Bledsoe wasn't one for confrontation.'